"Soon Will Come the Shades of Grey"

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the Inuyasha characters even though it would be pretty nifty if I did.

Chapter 1: To Disappear

The sky was a cool pink color as the sun began to set over the distant hills and mountains. Everything was quiet and still. A few crickets could be heard coming out and birds flying back towards their nesting chirped cheerfully back and forth at one another. The young girl watched in awe at every second of the evening. In her time large buildings and grey smog covered up these magnificent, yet simple spectacles. Not only did the darkening sky and magic around her catch her eye, but also the young man that stood just a few feet ahead of her.

His silver hair reflecting the fading sun ever so gently as the light breezed tugged it around his lean form. The red of his outfit stood out clearly before her and his silver white dog ears were perched perfectly on top of his head. For once, he was even silent. Not ridiculing her interest in such small affairs.

Maybe it was because it was finally over. Naraku was gone and now everyone was just relieved to not have to worry about it. But what was to happen to everyone now? Would they just go their separate ways? Was Kagome to use the Sacred Jewel to close the time rift in the Bone Eaters well forever? Leave all of her friends in this time behind and just forget about them? Forget about Inuyasha?

Kagome's thoughts were interrupted by Inuyasha's moving form going further down the hill. For a moment she thought about following him, but didn't. She wanted to follow him and tell her everything she felt for him. Of course her heart yearned for this, but her stubborn legs disagreed. So her soft chocolate eyes simply watched him disappear.

A sigh escaped the young girls lips as she put her hands behind her back and craned her head back to watch the pink sky turn to red and then purple and slowly to dark blue. It had taken two years to defeat Naraku. Two years of terrible grades, friends wondering about mysterious sicknesses, and growing a bit further from her family at home but not her family here. Now being the age of seventeen and a junior in high school she had to start worrying about her future. Her future in her time. Where she belonged.

Her head dropped again looking down at the supple green spring grass. She didn't want to leave but felt she had no choice and thought it to be best for everyone. Her job in this time was finally done and now it was time to leave.

Another sigh escaped her lips as she took one last glance in Inuyasha's direction and then she turned around to head towards home. The lavender colored jewel was gripped in her right hand tightly and she bit her lip trying not to cry. Why was she crying anyway? She wasn't planning on really leaving yet. Was she? No, not without saying goodbye to her friends. Or maybe it was better just leaving. Maybe it would hurt less by not seeing them one last time.

Soon Kagome reached the well and looked down into it with a sad expression resting on her face. The jewel still rested in her slightly shaking hand. With a deep breath she sat over the edge and held out the jewel. All she had to do was make the wish. That was it. Her eyes closed trying to think of the words, but fluttered back open when she heard a voice.

"You aren't leaving yet? Are you?" the hanyou asked her nervously. "Shippo is still expecting to see you, you know?"

Kagome didn't answer him. She couldn't even look back at him right now. It would just make this even harder than it already was. Her grip tightened on the jewel as she brought it close to her chest and once again averted her gaze down into the shadowy well.

"Kagome, are you even listening to me?" she heard Inuyasha ask a bit irritably. "You can't go home yet. You just got here and now you're leaving? I really don't feel like going back to your time in a week or whatever to come get you like I always end up doing."

He didn't know that she was leaving for good then? Maybe he didn't want to know or even think that she was leaving. Of course Kagome quickly shoved that away after realizing that she was nothing more than a shard detector to him. And now there were no shards.

"You don't have to worry about coming back to get me anymore, Inuyasha," she stated keeping her voice even. "I'm not coming back. The jewel is complete so I can go home now."

"Go home?" Inuyasha asked in a quavering voice. "But you can't just leave like that! What about Sango and the others? You haven't even said goodbye to them!"

She could tell that he was getting angry with her. But that was nothing new to her. It wasn't unusual for him to be upset with her or reversed.

"And why would that matter to you?" Kagome demanded still not looking his way. "I'm not even sure why you're arguing with me about this. You don't need me around anymore so why do you care?"

"Because I..," Inuyasha stuttered slightly but continued. "Because we still need you around. You can't just show up and hang around for two years then get up and leave. What about your friends?"

"They'll understand," Kagome mumbled trying not to cry.

"Like hell they will," Inuyasha snapped at her. "I don't get why you can't at least say goodbye."

"It's not that easy, Inuyasha!" Kagome retorted as she turned to face him.

Her tears remained unshed but were threatening to fall. The years she had spent with Inuyasha had taught her to cry less and less. Or at least get a little less upset or emotional about things.

When her eyes met Inuyasha stern golden ones she had to look away. Why was he being so stubborn? Oh wait, he's Inuyasha. But why so stubborn about this? When she first met him he wouldn't do something for other peoples well being. Just his own and it seemed like he tried to keep it that way. Although he seemed to fail miserably at it at times.

"Just stay," he pleaded.

Kagome tried to keep from looking at him but couldn't help it. When her eyes once again met his they didn't look stern at all. They looked a bit sad. Actually they looked really sad. What had gotten into him! Inuyasha sad about something like this? Impossible! Right?

"Please, Kagome," he said once again attempting to convince her.

Kagome's gaze remained fixed on Inuyasha saddened eyes. They scarred her in a strange way. Seeing him sad hurt her so much. Why couldn't he just let her leave? Now she had to deal with this. This hurt and pain that was obviously hurting him as well. She couldn't do this. Not now. It was too hard to handle and she didn't want to worry about this right now. She wanted to be at home in her warm bed and suddenly wake up realizing that all of the shards were still scattered. She never wanted her adventures with him to end.

"I can't!" Kagome said pushing off the edge of the well. 'I wish the time rift would close between our two times!' she thought desperately. She wished…

The last thing she heard was Inuyasha's voice echoing as he yelled her name trying to stop her. Then there was nothing.